Reflection on Multimedia for Online Teaching
In this course I gained a better understanding of visual literacy, which is the merger of multimedia and learning. Critical thinking and knowledge are developed through exposure to various types of media and through thought-provoking questioning and discussion. During this multimedia course I was introduced to a variety of Web 2.0 tools that can be used to create instructional materials. As instructors we can communicate more effectively by aligning instructional materials to the way people learn.
The multimedia principle states that learning and understanding are enhanced when images and graphics are used together rather than using text alone. I’ve gained an understanding of the best practices of instructional design and using the principles of multimedia to motivate and engage the learners for better learning outcomes. Following the principles of multimedia when creating presentations and worked examples will assist the learners in making connections with the materials and transfer their knowledge to long-term memory.
I’ve also learned that the human brain processes visual and audio input separately. The instructional goal is to avoid overloading the visual channel of the learners. Using audio to explain visuals rather than using onscreen text will help keep the learners attention and the presentation will be more effective.
My experiences in this class impacted my teaching or thoughts about teaching in several ways. When we apply the multimedia principles to create learning materials it benefits the learners by helping them make sense out of the presented materials and achieve deeper learning. Integrating both images and graphics encourages learners to engage in active learning. When creating a presentation we should place the text in relation to a graphic and this helps the learner make connections between the two. We need to remember to keep the learning material uncluttered by omitting any words, graphics, or sounds that do not support the instructional goals. Also, using a conversational tone and polite speech in a presentation helps focus the learner’s attention. Following the principles of multimedia design will improve the effectiveness of the presentation.
There are many free web 2.0 tools available to use for educational purposes. As instructors we can use these tools to motivate our learners as well as supporting the learning objectives. Which tool we choose depends on the audience. The slide presentation applications that were introduced during this course were Google Slides, Brainshark and Prezi. Audacity was used to produce a podcast. An animated character or agent was used to deliver instructional material. Jing was the video based application used to create a worked example. Our presentations were shared and discussed with fellow classmates who offered constructive feedback and was beneficial for making improvements to our presentations.
I will use the skills I’ve learned in future online training courses that I will lead. Depending on the audience I will use the multimedia principles to create instructional materials that enhance the goals of the course and assist the learners in making sense of the materials presented. By creating assignments that use these various Web 2.0 tools the learners can incorporate new knowledge with their prior knowledge to create new meanings.
Following are a few examples of how I would implement these tools in an online course.
The multimedia principle states that learning and understanding are enhanced when images and graphics are used together rather than using text alone. I’ve gained an understanding of the best practices of instructional design and using the principles of multimedia to motivate and engage the learners for better learning outcomes. Following the principles of multimedia when creating presentations and worked examples will assist the learners in making connections with the materials and transfer their knowledge to long-term memory.
I’ve also learned that the human brain processes visual and audio input separately. The instructional goal is to avoid overloading the visual channel of the learners. Using audio to explain visuals rather than using onscreen text will help keep the learners attention and the presentation will be more effective.
My experiences in this class impacted my teaching or thoughts about teaching in several ways. When we apply the multimedia principles to create learning materials it benefits the learners by helping them make sense out of the presented materials and achieve deeper learning. Integrating both images and graphics encourages learners to engage in active learning. When creating a presentation we should place the text in relation to a graphic and this helps the learner make connections between the two. We need to remember to keep the learning material uncluttered by omitting any words, graphics, or sounds that do not support the instructional goals. Also, using a conversational tone and polite speech in a presentation helps focus the learner’s attention. Following the principles of multimedia design will improve the effectiveness of the presentation.
There are many free web 2.0 tools available to use for educational purposes. As instructors we can use these tools to motivate our learners as well as supporting the learning objectives. Which tool we choose depends on the audience. The slide presentation applications that were introduced during this course were Google Slides, Brainshark and Prezi. Audacity was used to produce a podcast. An animated character or agent was used to deliver instructional material. Jing was the video based application used to create a worked example. Our presentations were shared and discussed with fellow classmates who offered constructive feedback and was beneficial for making improvements to our presentations.
I will use the skills I’ve learned in future online training courses that I will lead. Depending on the audience I will use the multimedia principles to create instructional materials that enhance the goals of the course and assist the learners in making sense of the materials presented. By creating assignments that use these various Web 2.0 tools the learners can incorporate new knowledge with their prior knowledge to create new meanings.
Following are a few examples of how I would implement these tools in an online course.
- Using a well designed, human-like animated character or teaching agent can be used as instructional guides. This will give the learner a sense of the instructor’s presence. These on-screen agents can increase motivation and learning by giving timely feedback. Programming the agent to interact and assist the students while they are working through problems, especially in the math and science areas, will lessen the frustration in learning.
- In a higher education environment we can encourage students to use these tools to tell their stories in new ways. Working in teams will also help to advance their own learning by collaborating with others and building their communication skills.
- I would like to work on developing interactive, educational materials for adults that are engaging and motivational. Creating training materials used in the workplace that help in skill development and that will assist in increasing employee productivity is one of my major goals.
- Using the multiple Web 2.0 applications that I’ve learned in this course, I would like to create games for senior adults. These games would be created with the purpose of improving memory retention and enhancing cognitive ability that is based on their personal needs.